Water – one of life’s most vital necessities. It can stand still, or it can be one of the most powerful forces known to man kind.
Take the Grand Canyon, for example. The Grand Canyon is one of the most awe-inspiring pieces of God’s creation. Most believe that the canyon took shape through years of water rushing through it, namely the Colorado River. Over millions of years, that body of water, that force, broke down the tight sediments in the rock to eventually create something so unique and beautiful. It took time – lots of it. Lots of rushing through, lots of dislodged sediments, lots of refining. It was a process, a tedious one at that. But now we have the canyon in all its glory.
I left a year ago for the World Race, an incredibly life-changing experience! When I say life changing, I mean it. My values have shifted, my trust and dependence in the Lord has strengthened immensely, and my faith is leaps and bounds ahead of where it once was. It took time to get where I am now – a lot of time. Yes, the nine months of the Race were part of that time, but it is way more than that. Try 19 years, 5 months and 16 days. This journey began all the way back on March 27th, 1999.
I would imagine that, at the very beginning, the Colorado River did not seem like a force that could create something as massive as the Grand Canyon. The work being done would have been slow and, frankly, unnoticeable. It would seem as though nothing was happening. However, we can now look back and imagine the river flowing through what would become the canyon and understand that the process began at the very start.
Similarly, God was working within and through me from the very beginning. Even in the moments where my faith was lacking, concluding that it was a rather pointless belief, God was still shaping and forming me. His waters were rushing all around me, molding me constantly. And then the Race came – God was preparing me my whole life for that moment.
The Race ended three months ago. With that, I am now able to step back and realize all that God did in and through me, not only on the Race, but before that too. I now have a much different perspective. I realize the significance of every little thing that got me to where I am now. Over time, God masterfully shaped me – He masterfully shapes all of us.
The Colorado River still flows through the Grand Canyon, still working away, still shaping the magnificent piece of creation. The work is unending. So is God’s work in us. It goes on for ever and ever. Although the World Race came and ended for me, the Lord’s work continues. We will forever be shaped by the one who made us for our walk with God is eternal.
